Last night I heard an unusual commotion from my neighbor's old yellow lab about 9 pm. They leave him outside with the garage door open when they leave. My wife went out to see what was going on and starting yelling "Coyote! Come quick!" I figured the neighbor's dog was in a life or death struggle with a coyote because of all the noise. There are no houses behind me. Nothing but woods.
In a flash as the adrenalin was pumping, I thought "Shotgun or pistol?" I pictured the dog rolling around with the coyote; so I ruled out my home defense shotgun—which is always ready and loaded with buckshot (screw the Mass. laws). I raced to my pistol box, unlocked it and grabbed my GLOCK, slammed in a loaded magazine and picked up a flashlight.
I ran outside, but my wife had just chased away the coyote by screaming at it. I searched their yard with my flashlight. The night sights on my GLOCK were really useful.
The dog was untouched and unhurt, and I then went back into my house after my daughter put the dog inside the neighbor's house.
Later when I went out with my dog, I had my Surefire flashlight and my shotgun.
Has anyone ever had to shoot a coyote attacking a dog? Which would you recommend: pistol or shotgun at that point? I am proficient with both and no nearby houses to worry about hitting.
My first thought would have been to fire into the ground to scare the coyote off the dog. Then as he ran, I would have taken him out.
In hindsight, I think I should have grabbed the shotgun first since it is less forgiving to aim.
In a flash as the adrenalin was pumping, I thought "Shotgun or pistol?" I pictured the dog rolling around with the coyote; so I ruled out my home defense shotgun—which is always ready and loaded with buckshot (screw the Mass. laws). I raced to my pistol box, unlocked it and grabbed my GLOCK, slammed in a loaded magazine and picked up a flashlight.
I ran outside, but my wife had just chased away the coyote by screaming at it. I searched their yard with my flashlight. The night sights on my GLOCK were really useful.
The dog was untouched and unhurt, and I then went back into my house after my daughter put the dog inside the neighbor's house.
Later when I went out with my dog, I had my Surefire flashlight and my shotgun.
Has anyone ever had to shoot a coyote attacking a dog? Which would you recommend: pistol or shotgun at that point? I am proficient with both and no nearby houses to worry about hitting.
My first thought would have been to fire into the ground to scare the coyote off the dog. Then as he ran, I would have taken him out.
In hindsight, I think I should have grabbed the shotgun first since it is less forgiving to aim.